Gloucester man could face life in prison for 7-11 robbery

Christener pleads guilty to three felonies in Dec. incident

GLOUCESTER — — Smiling broadly while shuffling his shackled feet into Gloucester Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon, William Johnathan Christener did not smiled when he was led out.

In the intervening 10 minutes, Christener pleaded guilty to robbing a Gloucester 7-11 and learned he faces life behind bars for his crimes.

As judge R. Bruce Long told Christener, he will spend at least five years behind bars — the combined mandatory minimum sentences for conviction on one count each of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

For the armed robbery charge, Christener will face up to life in prison when sentenced Sept. 6 — the same day he will also appear on a probation violation in relation to a previous conviction of eluding police.

Wearing an orange jumpsuit and standing next to attorney Brian Decker, Christener softly pleaded guilty to each charge as it was read aloud to him by the court clerk. Christener said nothing outside of one-word answers to the courts' questions.

The 36-year-old Christener did not complete high school, but has a general education development, or GED, certificate and was working in "home improvements" before his arrest.

He will not be eligible for parole on any of the counts, Long said. He will serve every day of at least the 5-year mandatory sentence and at least 85 percent of any further time imposed, Long Said.

Christener robbed the 7-11 on Route 17 near Riverside Walter Reed Hospital around 5:40 p.m. on Dec. 22. After pulling a gun on the clerk and demanding cash, Christener got away with about $115 in mostly $5 bills, said Gloucester County Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Hicks.

When Gloucester sheriff's deputies responded they found Christener fleeing the scene toward the hospital on a bike.

When confronted by a deputy, Christener attempted to flee and began stuffing cash through holes in a chain-link fence surrounding a small reservoir near the hospital, Hick said.

Christener turned to face the deputy and reached into his waistband.

The deputy yelled repeatedly at Christener to show his hands. When Christener drew a handgun from his waistband, the deputy fired, striking him in the ribs. Christener has since recovered from the wound and appeared healthy in court.

When searched at the hospital, where Christener was taken for treatment of his gunshot wound, investigators recovered about $95 and a .9 mm pistol, Hicks said.